The Allen Institute’s 2025 Next Generation Leaders (NGL) cohort features eight talented researchers exploring the frontiers of bioscience and pursuing insights into biology with the potential to advance human health. This year, researchers bring critical expertise in theory, immunology, and cell biology, which aligns with the Allen Institute’s vision of collaborative, cross disciplinary science aimed at advancing human health and our understanding foundational principles in biology.

Researchers have discovered that free radicals generated at a specific site in non-neuronal brain cells called astrocytes, may promote dementia, according to a Weill Cornell Medicine study. Their findings, published Nov. 4 in Nature Metabolism, demonstrated that blocking this site lowered brain inflammation and protected neurons, suggesting a novel therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative disorders, including frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists from China have developed a fully absorbable cranial fixation device that improves skull bone healing and stability after brain surgery. The new implant outperformed the widely used Aesculap® CranioFix clamp. The device provides stronger fixation, safer degradation, and faster postoperative skull recovery, offering a promising alternative to current metal or polymer fixation systems. These findings provide prominent significance for promoting the innovation and development of absorbable cranial flap fixation devices.